The Hong Kong Prize, sponsored by BOCHK, has awarded its 2023 laureates, who have been recognised for their outstanding scientific achievements and influence on transforming science research in Hong Kong. The prize has five zones and each zone features a series of interactive exhibits to showcase the research topics of this year’s Laureates, including those on artificial intelligence and robotics, life sciences, new materials and energy, and fintech.
The BOCHK Prize is the largest prize of its kind in Hong Kong, with a total of HK$2 million in cash, which includes a HK$500,000 award for a young scientist, a HK$1 million award for a distinguished professor, and a HK$500,000 award for advancing Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem. The BOCHK Prize aims to encourage and reward academic achievement of scientists in the fields of applied sciences, with particular emphasis on those with potential applications that benefit society.
At the Hong Kong News Awards 2022 ceremony, Chief Executive Officer John Lee Ka-chiu said that “although there is a saying that no news is good news, our media industry should play an important role in helping society explore fresh opportunities arising from the city’s new stage of development and high-quality growth in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.” Senior reporter Kate Li Bingcun won a top prize and two 1st runner-up awards for her three-piece culture series.
Three Hong Kong secondary school students have received first prizes in the 21st Century Cup National English Speaking Competition National Grand Finals, held in Chengdu, Sichuan province. Charmaine Wu Sum-ching of Diocesan Girls’ School and Christina Wong Man-yan of St Paul’s Co-educational College, both in the junior secondary division, were among the winners. Due to quarantine restrictions, they competed via video link.
In the past four years, the number of participants in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon has increased by over 18 times. In order to provide more participants with a better running environment, the entry quota was raised to 55,000 this year. The race has also introduced a new category called the Leaders Cup, which is an invitation-only event for district councils, community leaders and celebrities to run in a 2km team race.
The Hong Kong Phil has won the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Album of the Year award for its complete recording of Wagner’s cycle of Ring operas, with a box-set release in November 2018. This is the second time that the HK Phil has won the accolade, and it is the third year that the HK Phil has been nominated for the award. The HK Phil extends its heartfelt thanks to the HK SAR Government, Principal Patron the Swire Group, and music-lovers in Hong Kong and around the world for their support.